Boeing Sponsors RoboBusiness Conference & Expo; Future Combat Systems' Lead Systems Integrator Sponsors 2nd Year Business Development Event Focusing On Mobile Robotics and Intelligent Systems

Business Wire, April 28, 2005

NORTHBORO, Mass. & FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Robotics Trends and IDG World Expo today announced that Boeing, the Lead Systems Integrator for the U.S. government's Future Combat Systems (FCS) Program is sponsoring the RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition, and Dennis Muilenburg, Vice President and FCS Program Manager for Boeing, will deliver a luncheon keynote at the event. The conference and exposition will be held at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge in Cambridge, MA on May 10-11, 2005. The conference website is http://www.roboevent.com.

According to Dan Kara, conference chairman and President of Robotics Trends, "We are delighted that Boeing, the FCS Lead Systems Integrator, is sponsoring the RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition. As the foremost business development event for mobile robotics and intelligent systems, RoboBusiness brings together the key industry participants involved with commercial application of mobile robotic and intelligent systems technology to develop a new generation of smart, mobile devices for a variety of industries, including the defense industry."

According to Dennis Muilenburg, Vice President and FCS Program Manager for Boeing, "Robots and robotic technology are integral components of many FCS systems. As the Future Combat Systems Lead Systems Integrator, Boeing views the RoboBusiness event as a unique opportunity to educate leaders within the robotics and business communities about the Future Combat Systems program in general, and specifically the many business and partnership opportunities available within the FCS program throughout the design, development and production phases of the FCS program. We also view the RoboBusiness event as a great opportunity for FCS program members such as Boeing to keep current on the latest robotics technology and technology suppliers."

RoboBusiness Sponsors include:

--Corporate Sponsors: Founding Sponsor iRobot, Premier Sponsors Frontline Robotics and White Box Robotics, along with Bourque and Associates, CoroWare, Evergreen Enhancement, Evolution Robotics, Focus Robotics, HD Systems, Innova Holdings, inrevium, Integra Manufacturing, Japan External Trade Organization, John Deere, LatchTool, Machine Bus, McGraw Hill, Nu-Cast, Ologic, Openware Robotics, Perceptek, Protonex, RoboTech Center, Robotic Sciences, Rogue Robotics, ShopBot, SICK, Smart Robots, Systronix, United Defense, Valde Systems, Vision Components and Weber Robotics.

--Association Sponsors: AeA, Boston Entrepreneurs' Network, Connecticut Robotics Society, Global Emerging Technology Institute, Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange, Mass Software Council, New England Business and Technology Association, Object Management Group and The Technology Collaborative.

--Media Sponsors: Premier Media Sponsor Popular Science, as well as ABI Research, Circuit Cellar, CPU, Digital World, eDrive, Entertainment Engineering, Industrial Robot, Industrial Utility Vehicle, IT Toolbox, Network World, Nuts & Volts, PC World, RoboFolio, Robotbooks.com, Robotics World, Robotics Trends, Sensors Magazine, Servo Magazine, Technology Review and Vision Systems Design.

About Boeing

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft. With additional capabilities in rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, rocket engines, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems, the company's reach extends to customers in 145 countries. In terms of sales, Boeing is the United States' largest exporter. For more information, see http://www.boeing.com.

About FCS

The Future Combat Systems (FCS) program is an integral component, with other key complementary U.S. Government and commercial programs, in the U.S. Army's goal to be fully transformed and achieve the capabilities envisioned for the force of the future. FCS is a networked "system of systems" - one large system made up of 18 individual systems, plus the network, plus the soldier. It utilizes advanced communications and technologies to link soldiers with sensors and unmanned air platforms as well as with manned and unmanned ground platforms. FCS is agile - allowing forces to move quickly - and versatile - which allows troops to conduct a variety of missions. The 2005 Briefing Book provides visual representations of the elements of FCS. For more information, see http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/ic/fcs/bia/flash.html.> About Robotics Trends

Robotics Trends is the world's first integrated media firm serving the burgeoning personal, service and mobile robotics marketplace. Robotics Trends serves their clientele through three major business divisions:

--Publishing, which produces www.roboticstrends.com, an online magazine launched in October 2003, which produces over 400,000 page views monthly;

--Events, which produces RoboBusiness and the RoboNexus Conference and Exposition; and

--Analyst Services, which serves the strategic consulting needs of leading emerging robotics manufacturers.